Children's Liturgy Guide

5th Sunday of Easter

Year A · Easter

Jesus Is the Way

Reading: John 14:1-12

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Jesus tells His friends not to be worried because He is going to prepare a special place for them in His Father's house. He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that when we know Jesus, we know God the Father too.

Key Points

  • Jesus promises that there is a place being prepared for us in heaven with God.
  • Jesus tells us He is 'the way' to get to the Father.
  • When we see Jesus and learn about Him, we are learning about God the Father.
  • Jesus wants us to trust Him and not be afraid.

Background

This passage comes from the Last Supper discourse in John's Gospel. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure, promising them that His going away is purposeful: He goes to prepare a place for them in the Father's house. The phrase 'I am the way, the truth, and the life' is one of the seven 'I am' statements in John, revealing Jesus' divine identity and His unique role as mediator between humanity and God. Thomas's question and Philip's request to 'show us the Father' reveal the disciples' incomplete understanding, prompting Jesus to explain that knowing Him is knowing the Father because of their unity. The promise that believers will do 'greater works' points to the Church's mission empowered by the Spirit after Jesus' glorification. For children, emphasize the comforting image of Jesus preparing a home for us and being like a path that shows us the way to God. Set aside the theological complexity of the Father-Son unity and focus on the concrete: Jesus helps us find our way to God, just like someone who knows the way home.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank You for being with us today and for showing us the way to God our Father. Help us to listen carefully and to trust in You always. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever been somewhere new and needed someone to show you the way, like finding your classroom on the first day of school or finding your seat at a big event?

Example: Yes, on my first day of school I did not know where to go and my mom walked me all the way to my classroom door so I would not get lost.

Bridge to the reading: It feels so much better when someone who knows the way helps us get where we need to go. In today's reading, Jesus tells His friends that He is the way, and He will help them find their way to God's house.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Where does Jesus say He is going to prepare a place for His friends?

    Example: Jesus says He is going to His Father's house to prepare a special place for them to live.

  2. What does Jesus call Himself when Thomas asks how they can know the way?

    Example: Jesus says that He is the way, and He also says He is the truth and the life too.

  3. What did Philip ask Jesus to show them?

    Example: Philip asked Jesus to please show them the Father because he wanted to see God the Father.

  4. Why does Jesus say that if you know Him, you also know the Father?

    Example: I think it is because Jesus and the Father are so close together that knowing Jesus is like knowing God too.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How does it feel to know that Jesus is preparing a special place for you in heaven?

    Example: It makes me feel really happy and safe because I know Jesus loves me and wants me to be with Him someday.

  2. When you feel lost or worried about something, how can remembering that Jesus is the way help you?

    Example: I can remember that Jesus will help me figure things out and I can talk to Him in my prayers when I am scared.

  3. This week, who is someone you could help find their way, like a new friend at school or a younger brother or sister?

    Example: I could help the new girl in my class find where we line up for lunch because she does not know yet.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus tell His friends not to be worried because He is going to prepare a wonderful place for them in His Father's house. Jesus said He is the way, and when we follow Him, He leads us to God. We can always trust Jesus to show us the way.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For children who feel worried or lost, that they may know Jesus is always with them to show them the way, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

When the priest says 'Through Him, and with Him, and in Him' at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, we are praying through Jesus, who is the way to the Father, just as He tells us in today's Gospel.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving Jesus, thank You for being our way to the Father. Help us to follow You every day and to share Your love with everyone we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Is the Way

John 14:1-12

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

R B Q Z J J F S K V T R U T H
Z U H J C C K Z G T T N B O B
X Y F N E V A E H W H Y X T I
T C W H N N A W A F O Y N R U
Z V A F K T Z Y T G M W P U I
A P H I L I P H A J A T F S N
W A Y N Y G F O V V S O Z T U
L U K H U B A U W M L A Y S X
Q Q H L B R T S J L F L C U D
G Y Q K N B H E O S A F E S K
E E T I B P E W R I O P C E C
A N A A I J R K A H D A A J S
D Y E S V R L I F E V Z L R S
Z N P T F X W D R Y L F P Y R
E E D S N X I T F U B C B V E

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Father
  • house
  • way
  • truth
  • life
  • trust
  • heaven
  • follow
  • Thomas
  • Philip
  • place

ChildrensLiturgy.org